Grader for popped corn



5 1 |I 1| 3 5 m L, uw *um l 'ww QN w ,s n mf i! M 3 NN. NN 0 2 C 9 S D 1 R E .w O w 2 ,mi T o 2 ilir'l E P im, R R C Mv. um IDN l C. R .w xmJ w n N .A F n /mw Q mw m, uw mw f y /1 770km? y.

Patented Aug. 19, 1924.v

CHAiaLEs Carreras, or" CHICAGO, rLLrNoIs.

Gannett FCR yroeren Conn.

`.amamanon.inea Januaryaa, 1923.. semi no. 514,152. I

To aZZ 'whom t may concern.'

Be 1t known that I. CHARLES Ciuirons, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-` siding at Chicago, in the County-of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedy a certain new and useful Improvement c in Graders for Popped Cormof whichthe following is a specification.,l l

This invention relates to ya grading at-y tachment for corn popping'and vending machines for the removal of the grains of unpopped corn, etc. from the mass of poppedy corn after its discharge from thefpopping pan, and the present improvement `has for its object: k y

To provide a simple .andt substantial structural formation andy combination of parts, whereby the unpopped grains 'of corn as wellas' the fragmentary portions yof the popped corn are separated in a very4 effec# tive manner from the perfectly popped merchantable grains `of corn, with littlefof any injury by abrasion to such merchantable portion, in the grading operation, fall' as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1, is a detail central vertical section of an apparatus embodying thepreferred formiof the invention. I n 1 .In the manufacture of a' high grade merchantabley pop corn, the mainvrequisite is that the fully popped grains of corn be entirely free from all unpopped; grains, as well asthe smaller particles of popped corn and any other impuritiesinthe product `as it comes from the popping plan. Heretofore, the difiiculty with vthedifferent'types of grading mechanisms, has been that a large percentage of the fully popped corn, are brolren downin vthe grading operation, and with a view to prevent, in a `great measure, such waste, the main .objectfof the'present improvement lies and to such end consists in a construction as follo'ws Referring to the drawing ;-1, designates a portion of an intermediate vhorizontal partition or wall of the usual glass walled housing in which the corn popl'iiingpan enclosed, rand from which panthe popped y'corn is dumped onto the partition `las usual in this type of apparatus.

2, designates a circular pit formed centrally ,in thepartition 1 aforesaid, and having a downwardly inclined conical form ending at its lower end in a circular orifice, and preferably by a sheet metal wall ory inparatus.

of parts as follows; c

sert 3 of` the proper shape and having a downturned annulary flange 3f around y'said opening for supporting engagement withl a skeleton `frame or spider hereinafter,de-` scribed. c

, The circularcpit'2 in the present construe.

tion is formed into a shallow pit of an annular shape and triangular in cross section,

by a central conical yhead or deflectorl@ hereinafter described in detail, it having been' found by extended ypractical experi-y ment that suc'hfshallow form of the -pit 2 is best adapted to functionin an efficient and economical grading of the popped corn as it Acomes from they popping pan of the designates the skeleton frame or spider above referred to, having an annular rim 5 for attachment to the Hange' of the pit wall 3 aforesaid, and ay central hub portion 6 connected to said rim portion by` oneor more yradial arms 7as shown.

8 rdesignates a stationaryvertical post or k arbor arranged centrallyof the pit2', and fitted to the vertical bore of the hub portion 6 of the frame or spider 4, to be rheld in i proper centralrelationr in the structure. t ,c

9, designates an angular bracket having al vertical hub 10 and a horizontal hub y11, with Athe vertical hub 10 arranged to encircle the post. or arbor Sand secured therei onby a set screw 12, while they horizontal hub 11 affordsabearing f or a horizontal driving shaft 13 operatively connected to the power source of the apparatus.

. 14- designates a sleeve revolubly mounted on theupper portion of the post or arbor 5 and having bearing at its lower end upon the hub lO'aforesaid. At its lower end the sleeve 14 has operative engagement with the driving `shaft 13 bya Lpair. of bevel gears 15, while its upper portion is formed with peripheral screw vthreads `for the attachment 16, designates at conical detiector head,

havinga centralscrew threaded hub 17 ,for

adjustable engagement with the 'screw threaded upper end of the sleeve ll'aforesaid. -The deflector head 16 is locked to its adjustment by a cap nut'18 screwed upon the upper'end of the sleeve 1li asfshown, At its base, the kdeiiector head/16 isy of a less diameter than-@the bottom orifice of the pit Q aforesaid, so as `to rleave a narrowl annular discharge throat betweenl the two parts, f

which is capable ofy ei'ilargement and con traction by a vertical adjustment of the de-` flector head 16 with relation to the bottomorifice of the pit 2. i

19, designates an annular depending skirt or flange on the lower end rof the deflector head 16, prefei'ably of the tapering form shown, and adapted to provide in connection with the beveled upper end of the rim 5 aforesaid, a discharge throat capable of accurate regulation Yin the adjustment of parts to effect an enlargement or a contraction of said throat.

20, designates a stirrer finger, preferably formed of rod metal, the lower end of Awhich is attached to the periphery of the fiange or skirt 19 aforesaid by depending lug 21 and bracing studs 22 on said skirt. The stirrer finger 20 extends up centrally of the shallow annular pit 2 above described, and centrally of the annular mass of popped corn in said pit, andpreferably a distance above the pit and mass of popped corn, with its upper portion bent or looped as shown to aid in a stirring action on the upper layer of said mass. A single stirrer finger 20, so formed and arrangedhas been found to afford lthe necessary stirring action in the operation of the present apparatus. In such 'strriiig operation the uiipopped grains of corn, etc.,

are adapted to descend by gravityto and through the annular throat above described,

and which is made narrow enough to prevent passage of the properly popped grains of corn. y

23, designates a receiving pan for the unpopped grains of corn, etc. passed through the annular throat aforesaid. Inl the construction shown, said pan is provided with a central tubular socket head 24 adapted to fit the lower end of the aforesaid stationary post or arbor 8, to insure a proper central position of the pan 23 beneath thel aforesaid annular outlet throat.

25, designates a lateral stud on the post or arbor 8, adapted for engagement in an open top slot in the socket head 24, to hold v the pan 23 from turning movement.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a grader, the combination of a horizontal plate provided with a circular pit the wall of which inclines downwardly to'- wards the'center and has a central circular opening, a conical defiector head arranged centrally in said pit rand forming in connectionfwith said opening a narrow outlet 'throat and in connection with the pit wall forming a shallow oppositively tapering annular containing cavity for the substance treated, a stirrer finger arranged in said throat and extending up centrally through the; annular mass of material, and means for imparting movement to said finger.

2. In a grader, the combination of a horia'shallow oppositively tapering annular containing cavity for the substance treated, a

stirrer finger arranged in said throat and extending up centrally through the annular mass ofmaterial, and means for imparting endless circular movement to said finger in l said outlet throat.

3. In a grader, the combination of a horizontal plate provided with a circular pit the wall of which inclines downwardly towards the center and has a central circular opening, a conical defiector head ari ranged centrally and in vertically adjustable manner in said pit and forming in :connection with said opening a narrow outlet throat and in connection with the pit wall forming a shallow oppositively tapering annulark containing cavity for the substance treated,l a stirrer finger arranged in said throat and kextending up centrally through the annular mass of material, and means for imparting movement to said finger.

4:. Ina grader, the combination of a horizontal plate provided with a circular pit the wall of which inclines downwardly towards the center and has a central circular opening, a conical deflector head arranged centrally and in a vertically adjustable manner in said vpit and forming in connection with said opening a narrow outlet throat and in connection with the pit'vwall forming a shallow oppositively tapering annular containing cavity for the substance treated, a stirrer finger arranged in said throat and extending up centrally through the annular mass of material, and meansfor imparting endless circular movement to through the annular mass of material, and I, means for imparting movement to said finger, the conical deector head having a tapering depending skirt portion. j'

6. In a grader, the combination of a horizontal plate having a central circular pit formed by a conical sheet metal insert having a downturned flange at its open end,

a frame having an annular rim fitting said downturned flange, and having a central hub connected to said rim by a radial arm, a stationary vertical post arrangedy in said hub, a conical deflector head arranged on the upper end on said post and centrally in the said pit, with its lower end 'forming in connection with the pit opening a narrow outlet throat and in connection with the` pit wall forming a. shallow oppositively tapering annular containing cavity for the substance treated, a stirrer finger arrangedin Said throat and extending up centrally through the annular mass of the material, and means for imparting movement toy said finger.

7. In a grader, the combination of a` horizontal plate having a central circular pit formed by a conical sheet metal inserthaving a downturned iia'nge at its open end, a fram@J having an annular rim fitting said downturned flange and having acentral hub connected to said lrim by a radial arm, a

stationary vertical post arranged in 'said hub, a sleeve revolubly mounted on said post and having a screwjthreaded upper end, 'a conical detlector head `screwed upon the upper end of said slee-ve, with its lower end orrning'in connection with the pitopening a narrow outlet throat and in connection with the pit wall forming av shallow oppositively tapering annular containing cavity for the substance treated, a cap nnt screwed upon the upper end of the aforesaid sleeve to secure the defleetor head in place, means for imparting` rotation to said sleeve,-and

a stirrer linger associated with said sleeve and 'having movement in said outlet throat and extending up centrally through the annular'rnass of the material.

f Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 17th day of January, 1923.

CHARLES CRETORS. 

